Who is your favorite literary character? With which literary
character do you most relate?
These challenges are becoming more difficult each day. I’ve
spent most of yesterday and half the night trying to think of a favourite
literary character before realising that if I had to think that hard to come up
with a name, I clearly didn’t have one that stood out as a favourite. Does this
mean I’m fickle? Stepping into their lives when it suits me, engaging with them
emotionally and sharing their journey, only to forget them at the closing of
the last chapter? Mind you, it’s very much a one way relationship. Sure they
bare their heart and soul, expose the dark secrets of their lives and sometimes
show even more than I want to see, but I’m ever aware this is not exclusive to
me and they tell their story to all comers – open the first page and, zip, you’re
in. So with no favourites, at least there are the memorable ones. The sad and the
almost bad, the brave and the foolhardy, which leads me to…
Angelique, the title character from the French historical
adventure books by Anne and Serge Golon, also known as Sergeanne Golon, as
perhaps the literary character I most relate to as much for her capacity to get
herself into tight corners as for her feisty determination. She ages over the series of thirteen books,
as I have in life outside the page, learning about people and relationships and
the value of integrity. I may not have had adventures or liaisons on the scale
of Angelique, but I like to think I’ve carried her maternal courage, capacity for loyal friendships, and her good
intention into a more contemporary age.
~ Merlene Fawdry
~ Merlene Fawdry
I have never read those French historical adventures, but I now must read at least one. I couldn't choose a favorite because I had too many. I think I must hold characters in too high a regard. Ah, perhaps. Great POV.
ReplyDeleteWRITE ON!
I can almost feel your pain. Awesome post.
ReplyDeleteGreat post....and I felt the same about my lack of commitment to the characters who inspire me but you articulated that really well. Thank you
ReplyDeleteLisa x
That is a hard writing prompt! Because even if I think real hard and come up with a name or two for favorite literary characters, what emerges are "feelings" about the character. Feelings of warmth, courage, admiration, spunk -- and that's really hard to put into words and harder still to equate those feelings with your own life! :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear I'm not alone in not really attaching to characters! Thanks for this post, Merlene. I feel better now.
ReplyDelete